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Faculty of Regional Professional Studies - Graduate Speaker

Saturday Saturday, 16 February 2013, 6.00pm

Ms Nicole Teague

Good evening Chancellor, Vice Chancellor, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, and Fellow Graduates. Thank you for the kind introduction, my name is Nicole Teague and I would like to welcome you all to the graduating ceremony here at the Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre. It is a great honour to be standing at this podium in front of you all, representing the 2013 graduating students from the faculties of: Arts, Business, Nursing, Coastal Environmental Science, Social Work, Teacher Education and Surf Science (Why is it that this sounds so cool?).

I am sure that you will agree with me that coming to Edith Cowan Universities' Regional Campus is a unique and special experience. It not only provides fabulous opportunity and enrichment to the lives of its students, who without this campus would have to travel in the pursuit of a Tertiary education, but it is equally enriching to the rural community as a whole, by providing the best graduates possible to work and live within our rural communities.

When we came here we started out as strangers and now, we are walking away friends, friends that will forever be remembered and cherished. Many things in life come and go, but our memories remain with us. All the memories I have made since being here will be ones I will think of often and with great fondness - like learning to spell diarrhoea and onomatopoeia! There is no-one who understands a challenging experience like the people you share it with and WOW what a ride we have together - I want to personally thank all of those who shared in my experience and allowed me the privilege to share their own, your friendship, laughter and support saw me through. I am so proud of you all. I also want to take this opportunity to thank the 3 pillars in my life, Jed, Ben and Jack, thank you for all your love, patience, understanding and encouragement, for without you, this journey would not have made sense. And to my parents who set me on the path to always strive to be the best person I could be.

I remember coming here a year ago excited and scared, not knowing what to expect and wondering how I was going to get through a entire year - or for some of you - four whole years! And as I stand here today, I can honestly say, that whether it was four long years or just one - it was but a mere moment in the grand scheme of things. I wish I had managed to get through with Yoga and Quinoa, but for me it was chocolate and coffee (though not from the Canteen), whichever way you managed to get through - Congratulations and Well done. Our time here will not be forgotten, nor will the people. And those will be some of the most cherished memories of all, and I think many of your sitting out there today feel the same way. Whilst, our time at University was great, it is now time to usher in the new students and for us to make our mark on the world - Edith Cowan University has provided us with the platform to fly. I wish you all the best in whatever flight path you intend to take - keeping in mind the words of Henry David Thoreau

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams, Live the Life that you have Imagined"and May all of your lives exceed even your wildest imaginations.